May 18, 2006

What is it about outsourcingthat Republicans love so much? First, the Bush administration wanted to outsource our port security to a foreign county. Now, Ken Blackwell is continuing to push his plan to outsource Ohio's Turnpike.

Illinios raised their fees by 50 cents - to $2.50 per car. Indiana will soon have its first toll increase in 21 years. The foreign companies, from Spain or Western Europe, lease the roadways from the state, then jack up toll rates to make up the money.

The conservative plan for privatization is a one-two punch: first, starve state roadways by eliminating funding so roadways crumble, second, use the failures as proof that government is incompetent - and that our jobs and infrastructure need to be outsourced to the private sector and foreign companies.

But should we be surprised Blackwell wants to outsource our roads to foreign companies? After all, Taftwell seeks to govern through gimmicks, not through real leadership.